Dawn raids took place on 10 addresses this morning as police attempt to catch a murderer who escaped from prison six months ago.

Shaun Walmsley, 28, has been on the run since two men armed with a knife and a gun confronted prison guards outside Aintree University Hospital during a visit from HMP Walton on February 21.

Today a 26-year-old man wanted on warrant was arrested and an 18-year-old man was held on suspicion of money laundering following the recovery of a large quantity of cash from a property in Kirkdale.

The early-morning operation was undertaken in a bid to hit individuals suspected of gun, drugs and a host of other offences linked to the his underworld network.

Searches of properties in the Kensington, Toxteth, Everton, Anfield, Fazakerley, Bootle and Vauxhall areas of the city are continuing.

A number of raids have also taken place in cells at Walton jail as part of the same operation. He escaped from custody on February 21 during the scheduled hospital appointment and used a gold-coloured Volvo as a getaway vehicle. The car was later found abandoned in Fazakerley.

Superintendent Natalie Perischine, of Merseyside Police, said: 'We are still working to establish Walmsley's whereabouts and will not stop until we have found him. 'In the meantime, we will continue to disrupt those who we believe are linked to Walmsley and who are also believed to be involved in serious organised crime on Merseyside.

'We know that some members of the criminal fraternity on Merseyside will know where Walmsley is and I would urge them to think long and hard about what they know and to come forward.

'He is a violent individual and we are determined to put him back behind bars and we will leave no stone unturned in the coming months. As police raided addresses in search of Walmsley officers some 30 miles away were hunting 'dangerous' arsonist Anthony Curry who escaped from prison yesterday. 

Curry, who was jailed in 2013 for manslaughter, burglary and arson, escaped from HMP Kirkham between midday and 2pm yesterday, according to police.

The 43-year-old was sentenced to 12 years after admitting the manslaughter of retired lecturer Christopher Proctor, 88, and burning his house down to destroy any evidence.

During sentencing the judge said it was 'difficult to imagine a more serious case of manslaughter'. 

He was found and arrested on Thursday afternoon.